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Don't believe I wrote a thread about it, otherwise I'd refer you to it.

But the take home notes I gathered from research, and the guys here, is that like Steve said, parents, of which there are many here on the forum, haven't been getting optimal sleep, yet it hasn't hindered their ability to build muscle, and certainly not to lose fat.

However, If your tired from lack of enough sleep, you might not perform as well in the gym the next day.

There are other reasons you need your sleep than just recovery.

For example with me, I know if I don't get enough sleep, I feel crappy the whole day, and that effects my eating, my lifting, etc;

However it's a personal thing, most definatly.

If the only thing your bothered about is missing out on recovery, then that suggests your not really tired throughout the day, and you can perform fine with 4-5 hours, or you would have said so.

If you can get by and feel fine with 4-5 hours, then that's great, and you have no need to worry, IMO.

If not, and you do infact feel crappy throughout the day, tell us the reasons, tell us exactly how you feel, weather it affects your lifting, etc;

Because that's more important that missing out on gains, which btb's explained is unlikely to happen.

Give us some more information if thats the case, and someone more qualified can tell you what to do.

but will you build more quality muscle and be perhaps a little bit stronger, with optimal sleep? even a tiny bit more? Gotta think that more sleep cant hurt, and if it cant hurt, it probably helps?

It probably helps doesn't necessarily follow from it can't hurt.

There is some research showing that physical performance does improve with optimal sleep. And it probably helps fat loss and alters hormonal profiles in a positive way. But will it make a really noticeable difference? Sleep is only one factor that affects muscle growth, along with:

Im on board with what youre Saying Tannhauser, and I agree that theres lots of variables that go into muscle building, and if some hard working sob is holding down two jobs, parenting kids, and is dedicated to a training program, but just cant get more than 5-6 hours of sleep a night, We shouldnt tell him to sacrifice his family for a nap.

I just think that the emphasis on the importance on sleep just isnt there in most sports and physical activities.
. Probably because "sleep" isnt produced in a lab or warehouse, marketed, and sold on Amazon.com.

The other connection with sleep is the positive benefit that it gives to mental performance. -which I could argue, filters into the physical performance, ie training.

Just something to think about., Im certainly no expert on fitness, but I have been heavily involved in a sport for many years, and I see parallels.